Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-10-27
THE TARIFF SWINDLR
The Farmer and the Mechanic Its
Victims. #.
A Scheme Coneoeted to Make the Poor
AIan Poorer and the Rich
Man Richer.

N1au AhchcNs
The question at issue to-day rs not
whether it is wise, just or expedient to
exact tariff-tax at all, no: whether as
a matter of economical philosophy,
"Free Trade" or Protection" is tho
true theory OF international Commercial
exchanges, hut whether in view Of the
large and constantly increasing annual
surplus in the treasury (now more than
one hundred million dollarsl and the
financial stringency caused by the con-
slant accumulation of the peoples
money where It can not be used ex-
cept by creating new and unnecessary
channels Of expenditure, it is not best
to stop the accumulation in such way
as to afford relief to the great mass OF
the people.
The present tariff system is one Of
the most iniquitous that can be con-
ceived. Not only is the burden that it
imposes upon the people enormous, but
it is radically unjust and practically
outrageous. Upon the plea of protect
ing American work, it robs the Ameri-
can workingman, whether he be farmer
or mechanic, with the real Though not
avowed) purpose of enriching the mer-
chant and the manufacturer. And
then, after the robbery has been COM
mitted, it discriminates constantly IN
favor Of the robber, on the principle
that "to him that hath shall be given
more abundantly, and from him that
hath not shall be taken even the little
that he hath"
Let us see how this works in the
case of
THE FARMER AND THE MANUFACTURER.
The present tariff discrimiaates in favor
Of the manufacturer, against the producer
Of the rGw material, aUho Is the Ggricult,r-
isl.
In the first place, it admits, duty free,
or with very light duties, a large class
OF articles used in manufactures while
it imposes very heavy duties on articles
consumed by the agriculturist, which
come into competition with the articles
produced by the manufacturer.
1t admits, duty free, all berries, nuts
and vegetables used in dyeing, all dye
woods in the stitch, barilla, bleaching
powder, Brazil wood, kelp, indigo, lac
dye, madden, crude saltpetre, shellac,
sumac turmeric, and numerous other
articles entering into manufactures.
The articles above enumerated, and
many others, are admitted without any
duties, in order to benefit or "protect"
the manufacturer while the farmers
and other laboring men who buy the
goods manufactured, are taxed on all
articles of manufacture coming in COM
petition with domestic articles of the
same kind, from 80 to 100 per cent.
To benefit the manufacturer, the wool,
VIII ch comes in direct competition with
that raised by Ohio wool-growers, is ad-
mittel at p cents per pound while
the farmer who raises wool, and other
working people, have to ply for the
cloth into which it is manufactured, a
tax OF over % per cent, in Luton to
the price of the goods and the profits
thereon.
To benefit the manufacturer fax IS
admitted at a duty OF 80 per tpl, VIII CT
is equal to s per cent all vaiorru; Wn It
the consumer is take ~ to | } u.r T. mt,
on all articles into which it IS mau AiA> t
ured.
Raw hides, which come in 20 ~rrti-
tition with the farmers, ar. = Il
free OF duty; while TIN, .atn.r, -
which they are manufactured, IS - D..
tected" by duty OF ~ PER cent, a.
vaoren.
Brist!es pay duty which is 9 u'l r.
per cent, all valoreM; whii' !
brushes into which they aro l...>.a..- -
tured pay 81 per cent.
l.inseed pays duty e1ual tn ''.'' !,
per cent; while lins.ed oil, ,.,N ,
tits manufactured, pays d~ty ,q 49,. ,l
43 per cent, ad vaorem.
Rags pay a duty OF 10 per cent W ..:
the paper into which they ar .Vn ll.i r.
ured pays duty ranging fro.n ID 20 .
per cent.
These ex<nplcs would seem 10 b. suf-
ficient to prove conclusively to tl'Hn t
prejudiced mind, even, that III IN in
Object OF th' tx!sting tariff is 10 pai"-
per and enrich the manuiactu" at h.
expence OF the community. inl n'rn
sufficiently shown that III pr"rn5
tariff discriminates in favor tn. ,.ta
u.acturer and against the pro u'er o.
the raw material and the colsI .rcr.
IN FAVOR OF THE RICH, AGAINST THE
POOR.
The present tariff also discriminates
in favor of the rich consu u r, an |
against the poor con Iumer, = in other
words, 1t imposes tie lighted dutg on tt5
articles consumed by the rich, and The
hedriest duty upon those consumed By The
poor; thus erempting capital, and taxing
labor. ....
A few examples must suffice:
1t taxes the rich silk dress worn by
the lady of fashion but 25 per cent !;
while it taxes the poor woman for her
silk dress made of the poorest and
cheapest material, SO per cent.
1t taxes the rich woman but 20 per
cent on her fine French muslin; while
il taxes the poor woman as high as 125
per cent on her cheap calico.
1t taxes the flat-iron of the poor
washerwoman from SO to 100 per cent !;
the hatter's and tailor's irons from so to
100 per cent; the blacksmith for his
anvil AMI hammer from 50 to 80 per
cent: and the farmer for his axes, hoes,